Between May 25 and September, the Washington Metropolitan Area TransitAuthority (WMATA) will close all stations south of Reagan National Airport for platform repair work as part of its Platform Improvement Project. The City understands this will seriously limit the ability of residents, visitors, and workers to get around the City. That is why the City, working with WMATA and other partners, has prepared a plan to get through this period. This plan represents months of discussion both with WMATA and other partners. Below are the plans the city is jointly offering, in collaboration with WMATA.

WMATA Bus BridgesWMATA will fund up to four shuttle routes that serve each of the stations. These buses will come every 5-10 minutes or better during peak periods (5:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. – 7p.m.), every 10-15 minutes or better during mid-days and weekends, and every 15-20 minutes or better after 9:30pm.

• The Franconia-Pentagon Express will go from Pentagon Metrorail Station toFranconia-Springfield Metrorail station, and will not enter Alexandria surface streets

• The Huntington-Pentagon Express will also not enter Alexandria surfacestreets, going from Pentagon to Huntington

• The Blue Line Shuttle and Yellow Line Shuttle will serve stations in Alexandria

– The Blue Line Shuttle will serve Reagan National Airport, a stop at King St andWashington St, King St station, , the corner of King St and Washington St, VanDorn St, and Franconia-Springfield

– The Yellow Line Shuttle will serve Crystal City, Braddock Rd, King St, Eisenhower Ave andHuntington

Additionally, WMATA will provide enhanced Metrobus service on the 10A, 10E, 8Z, and 11Y. The 11Y will have the most significant changes, as WMATA will add bidirectional midday service.

MITIGATION PLANfor Summer 2019 Metro

Platform Improvement Project

Traffic Mitigation

How it Works The City is helping our partners at WMATA and DASH to move buses quickly. Given that up to 27,000 persons a day could move on these buses, it is important to increase throughput. The City has worked with WMATA and DASH to identify chokepoints and adjust traffic control as needed. This may be as small as adjusting stop bars or signal timing at certain intersections, to as large as increasing car occupancy requirements on HOV lanes.

Cost The City expects to pay up to $100,000 for traffic improvements and data collection. With DRPT reimbursement, this may be as low as $20,000.

Benefits Benefits include ensuring WMATA can include bus frequency of up to five minutes.

Partners Partners in this effort include WMATA and DASH, who are helping the City identify chokepoints. The City will conduct outreach before each adjustment, and will seek approval from the Traffic and Parking Board as provided by ordinance.

Commuter Water Taxi

the use of water taxis between the City and the Metrorail system in DC. PRC provides water taxis to the District Wharf as part of its regular service, with a five-minute shuttle connection to the L'Enfant Plaza Metrorail station. They wil provide four additional runs between Old Town Alexandria and District Wharf during the morning peak. The City has also worked with PRC to add temporary ferry service in the mornings. A private service, the water taxi may run up to two additional round trips before 9:30, though they may adjust based on demand. PRC is responsible for traffic impacts in Old Town.

Cost Potomac Riverboat Company provides its service as part of its normal business

Benefits In addition to a low-cost alternative to Metrorail service, the water taxi fits into the City’s Waterfront Small Area Plan as a return to the river. The water taxi challenges Alexandria residents, as well as residents in the entire region, to see the Potomac as a way to get around.

Partners The Potomac Riverboat Company, realizing an opportunity to promote its business, is working hard to promote this service, and to provide the City data that measures performance.

How it Works The City has partnered with Potomac Riverboat Company (PRC) to encourage

operations, and may add service as demand warrants. If residents buy water taxi passes, the City will reimburse $100 of the costs, up to $85,000. In addition, Potomac Riverboat Company is discounting select tickets for its morning service.

Enhanced DASH Service

How it Works DASH is the City of Alexandria’s bus network that provides supplemental service to Metrobus. The City is working with DASH to improve how residents and visitors get around. Regular DASH service will not be free during this period, but DASH will operate free extra shuttle buses seven days per week and add extra weekday trips to the AT3 and AT4 (which has service to the Pentagon) . The City is also exploring the idea of a free express shuttle between Pentagon and King Street during weekday peak periods, and a fare reduction on regular DASH routes for patrons who use the agency’s new mobile ticketing app.

Cost $1.631 million (as little as $326,000 with DRPT reimbursement)

Benefits The service will help Alexandria residents move around Alexandria and to open Metrorail stations during the shutdown.

Partners DASH will be the service provider.

New Hours for King St Trolley

How it Works The King St. Trolley is a popular free service that serves King St from the Metrorail station to Union St. at the Waterfront. The enhanced King St. Trolley will continue to serve those who take Metro’s shuttle buses, in addition to commuters who wish to take the water taxi. The City plans to start the trolley at 7a.m. on weekdays and 9a.m. on weekends.

Cost $84,000, with potential DRPT reimbursement lowering the cost to less than $17,000.

Benefits King St. Trolley enhancements ensure that visitors, residents, and workers can go from one of three transit hubs along King St (King St Metrorail, King and Washington, and the water taxi dock) can access many different parts of Old Town.

Partners DASH will provide the service to the City.

Ridesharing

How it Works The City encourages people to share rides to and from work. Three people in one car causes less traffic congestion than three people in three different cars do. That’s why the City plans to use parking spaces it rents at Landmark Mall as meeting points for carpoolers. The City is also encouraging carpools of six or more people, called vanpools, to form. The City will pay up to $200 per person per month for new vanpools.

Cost $92,000, or as little as $19,000 with DRPT reimbursement.

Benefits In addition to moving cars off Alexandria streets, carpooling lowers emissions for everyone, and continues the City’s long-term trend of reducing congestion.

Partners While the City’s GO Alex program will lead carpool formation, City residents are theones who will make this program successful. And while not City-supported efforts, ridesharing companies, such as Waze Carpool and Via, are entering this space.

Employer Outreach

How it Works Employers are often the most influential transportation resource for employees. Through the City’s GO Alex program, dedicated representatives will work with employers to find transportation options.

Benefits This will allow employers and their employees to know about transportation options. It will also help encourage longer-term mode shift from people who work here.

Partners While the City’s GO Alex program is facilitating this effort, employers in the City are the partners in this effort.

Alternative Transportation

How it Works During the Metrorail Shutdown period, residents, visitors and workers will look at many different options for getting around Alexandria. The City will help by enhancing bus stops and sidewalks at key intersections. The City will also partner with the Washington Area Bicycle Association (WABA) to provide bicycle classes.

Finally, the City will still pilot its Smart Mobility program until September. A pilot that allows people to use dockless bikes and scooters, the City will use the program to promote mobility.

Cost $117,000 (as little as $24,000 with DRPT reimbursement)

Benefits This critical period gives City residents and visitors tools to use mobility options, being bicycling, walking, or taking scooters.

Partners The Washington Area Bicycle Association is leading classes. In addition, several dockless bikeshare and scooter companies are helping by participating in the Smart Mobility pilot.

Other Costs

The City will also have other costs related to project management. These costs include communication and outreach, hosting events, and overtime for City staff to implement the plan.

For additional information, visit alexandriava.gov/GOAlex